The Attack: What Happened?
On April 22, 2025, a terrorist ambush in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of 26 Hindu pilgrims and injuries to dozens more. The attack was carried out using automatic weapons and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on a convoy of tourist buses.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and carnage, with attackers vanishing into the surrounding forests. The attack is widely believed to have been orchestrated by Pakistani-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), although Islamabad denies involvement.
🇮🇳 India’s Multi-Pronged Retaliation
India responded with a coordinated set of diplomatic, economic, military, and geopolitical actions aimed at pressuring Pakistan and preventing future attacks. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
1. Diplomatic Isolation of Pakistan
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Downgrading of Diplomatic Ties: India expelled two senior Pakistani diplomats and recalled its own High Commissioner from Islamabad.
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Global Briefing Campaign: India launched a diplomatic offensive, briefing major powers and international bodies, including the UN, EU, and G20, with evidence of cross-border terror networks.
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Demand for FATF Action: India urged the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to relist Pakistan in the "blacklist" for financing terror.
2. Economic Sanctions and Trade Suspension
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Full Suspension of Trade with Pakistan: India halted all imports and exports, especially cement, textiles, and dry fruits, which were still unofficially being traded via third-party countries.
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Revocation of MFN Status: India formally revoked Pakistan’s Most Favored Nation (MFN) trade status.
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Customs Crackdown: Goods suspected of indirect Pakistani origin are being turned away at Indian ports and border checkpoints.
3. Airspace and Transit Restrictions
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Airspace Closure: India closed its airspace to Pakistani airlines and cargo, causing costly rerouting of flights and delays in Pakistani aviation.
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Port Ban: Pakistani cargo vessels and fishing boats were barred from docking at Indian ports.
These measures have not only disrupted Pakistan’s fragile economy but also sent a strong geopolitical message.
4. Security and Military Posturing
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Troop Deployment Surge: India increased troop presence along the Line of Control (LoC) and International Border, particularly in Rajouri, Kupwara, and Baramulla sectors.
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Precision Strikes (Unconfirmed): There are unverified reports that Indian forces carried out targeted artillery shelling and drone strikes on suspected terror launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
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Counter-Insurgency Sweep: The Indian Army and paramilitary forces launched Operation Shuddhikaran, an intensive sweep across South Kashmir to root out sleeper cells.
5. Domestic Political and Public Response
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a national address, calling the attack a “cowardly assault on India's soul” and vowed that the “perpetrators and their protectors will pay a heavy price.”
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Mass Rallies and Protests took place across India, demanding justice and strong retaliation. Nationalist sentiment is at a high.
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Opposition Parties have largely supported the government’s hard stance, marking rare bipartisan consensus on national security.
6. Media, Public Opinion, and Narrative Control
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Indian media has widely circulated images and videos of the attack, creating a strong emotional backlash.
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The narrative strongly paints Pakistan as a “state sponsor of terrorism,” a framing that India has successfully used at global platforms.
7. Strategic Moves: The Indus Waters Treaty Threat
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India hinted at revisiting or suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, which governs water-sharing with Pakistan.
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If India formally withdraws or modifies it, this could severely affect Pakistan’s agriculture-dependent economy, particularly in Punjab and Sindh provinces.
International Support and Reactions
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United States: Called for restraint but backed India's right to self-defense, urging Pakistan to act against terrorist elements.
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European Union: Warned of regional destabilization and offered mediation.
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Russia and France: Expressed condolences and signaled support for India's anti-terror operations.
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China: Called for calm, though India remains skeptical of Beijing’s neutrality due to its ties with Pakistan.
Strategic Implications
For India:
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The strong reaction enhances Modi’s national security credentials ahead of any elections.
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Reasserts India's global positioning as a victim of terrorism and a state willing to retaliate.
For Pakistan:
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Facing economic isolation and diplomatic pressure.
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Risks internal unrest if India’s retaliatory measures begin to strain Pakistan’s already weak economy.
Conclusion
India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack represents a calibrated yet forceful approach to counter-terrorism. By combining military vigilance with diplomatic leverage and economic chokeholds, New Delhi aims to deter future attacks and send an unambiguous message that cross-border terrorism will not be tolerated.
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